McIlroy off to new horizons

DUBLIN-based sports management company Horizon, headed by Galway man Conor Ridge, pulled off its biggest coup yesterday with the news that US Open champion and world No 3 Rory McIlroy will become their latest acquisition after leaving Andrew “Chubby” Chandler’s International Sports Management (ISM) company.

There will be considerable speculation that the move was sparked by McIlroy’s friendship with Graeme McDowell who travelled a similar route in late 2007 and has since crowned a number of outstanding achievements with victory in the 2010 US Open, a feat emulated by McIlroy last June. McIlroy didn’t comment on his reasons for the change.

“I would like to sincerely thank Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler and his team for their guidance, representation and management over the past four years since turning professional,” McIlroy said. “Chubby and his team have played a very important role in my success to date. I have made great progress under their management and I will always be grateful.

“I am now keen to move on to the next stage of my career and this will be facilitated by a fresh view and a new structure around me. I am delighted to be joining Horizon and look forward to working with my new team.”

Even McDowell’s acquisition in 2007 pales in comparison with the signing of McIlroy, who is still only 22 years old and is one of the hottest and most valuable properties in all of sport.

Horizon boast several outstanding golfers on their books including current Ryder Cup player, Ross Fisher; 2009 Irish Open champion Shane Lowry; Michael Hoey, winner of the Dunhill Links Championship and a number of promising young, mainly Irish, players.

McIlroy’s decision is a major blow for Chandler, no matter how brave a face he puts on it. The loss of McDowell was bad. Another major championship winner, South African Ernie Els, left last month to run his own affairs from his family home in Florida, while Paul McGinley departed last December having been with ISM for 19 years.

However, Chandler must be rocked by the departure of McIlroy. He regarded Rory’s signing when he turned professional in 2007 as crucial in his stated ambition to establish ISM as one of sport’s leading management firms.

Aside at all from the business deals that helped to make both men extremely wealthy, Chubby took great pride in McIlroy’s success in the ensuing four years. In fact, Chandler became something of a father figure to McIlroy. A senior member of the ISM staff, Stuart Cage, looked after his affairs personally and was constantly at his side. No doubt there will be serious soul-searching within ISM as to the reasons for McIlroy’s departure.

While ISM continue to represent Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke, and world No 2 Lee Westwood, they will now feel the pressure being exerted by Horizon more than ever.

“ISM is growing and adapting to ensure it stays at the forefront of golf and the business of managing players,” Chandler said. “It has been an honour to represent Rory and we wish him every success. Under our management, he has grown into an international figure and leaves as a major champion.

“ISM prides itself on putting the athletes first. In golf, this has enabled our players to achieve unprecedented success with Rory joining Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke major winners and Lee Westwood at the summit of the world rankings. Onward and upward. We have had quite a brilliant year.”